Best Way for Women to find Non-Stereotyped Jobs (2008)

In 1978, a mere 2 percent of jobs in the construction field were held by women, despite a 6.9 percent guideline issued by the government. Thats why the nonprofit organization Non-Traditional Employment for Women (NEW) was launched back then; it has since provided a regular free six-week training program (prepping 420 woman last year alone) as well as placement services afterwards. Though theres still only 3 to 4 percent of the jobs in construction held by women now, NEWs program has helped women find jobs at Con Edison, Time Warner, and the MTA. The organization considers its biggest success story to be the women themselves, many of whom are single parents and/or faced domestic violence and homelessness. According to NEW president Liz Fitzgerald, the groups goal is to ultimately go out of business. Someday, every eighth-grade girl will consider this type of work, she explains. [Shes] seen a woman construction worker or [has] a friend whose mom does this, and thinks that this could be a career for herself, too.